Two taxi operators were fined $100,000 each for ‘Operating with FraudulentTransport Authority badges’ when they appeared in court, recently.

The Transport Authority says the men were arrested last December during a special operation conducted to curtail illegal practices in the industry.

The men were fined for knowingly being in possession of, and uttering false documents, when they appeared in the Westmoreland Parish Court.

In issuing the verdict, the presiding judge warned the men not to return before the court for any such offence, while noting that they could pay a fine, of up to a million dollars, or face 2 years imprisonment.

Reacting to the verdict, managing director of the Transport Authority, Ralston Smith, said the swift and decisive judgement, is a warning to persons who consider defrauding the authority, by contravening the badge procedure, and putting the public at risk.

He warned public passenger vehicle operators to discontinue the use of any fraudulent badges in their possession, while urging the public to report suspicious activities of drivers and conductors.

The road traffic regulations stipulate that the wearing of driver and conductor badges is a pre-requisite for operating public passenger vehicles.